A Degree in Agricultural Education: The Process and Outcomes David Agnew Arkansas State University

The Big Picture Education (teaching, administration etc,) –Elementary, Middle School, Secondary and Post Secondary Career and Technical Education (Vo Ed) –Education that leads to employment –18-19 different program areas (Ag is just one, but one of the biggest) –In Arkansas each student is required to have access to three vocational programs in public school. Historically that has been Ag, Family and Consumer Science, Business, and/or Industrial Arts)

Requirements of the Profession All states require elementary, middle and secondary teachers to be certified and/or licensed. Teacher education programs in universities lead students toward certification/licensure. State Dept and universities work together, but it is the state that certifies or licenses teachers.

Recent Legislation has Brought Changes No longer course based. Instead based on outcomes (knowledge) New level in the testing phase –PPST to Praxis I (Same as before) –NTE to Praxis II (new levels) (Professional Knowledge) –From certification to licensed –Stepwise assessment –Longer internships –More focus on technical knowledge –Mentoring

Facts about the Ag Ed degree Ag Ed is one of four degree programs in the college (Ag Bus, An Sc, Pl Sc, and Gen Ag) Degree program leads to “Professional licensure” (certification) Technical in Nature -- Mixes both the social and physical science Physical Science --Broad in nature, course from different areas, (i.e. plant science) Social Science --Deals with the knowledge and skills needed for communications or teaching.

Relationship to the College of Education Some Education courses are taken through the College of Education. (They have SCED, STAG, EDAG, etc. prefixes). They are the central point where all Education programs are coordinated. Our degree program and others have some autonomy but there are certain standards and requirements that the COE sets for all degree programs that lead to teacher licensure.

Because we are a profession you must be licensed Accreditation –NCATE –INTASC –STATE –INSTITUTIONAL Licensure –Begins at the institution with program of study –Forwarded to the State Department Advanced Certification –NATIONAL

The State Department and Their Role in Teacher Licensure The state is the one who licenses you to teach (this was called teacher certification until recently). All applications or requests or programs of study for teacher licensure go through the Professional Education Program on campus(Mary Jane Bradley) before going to LR. –The only exception are programs that are add on endorsements, i.e. Career Orientation and Adult Education. These go straight to LR.

Steps to a Degree and Licensure 1. Freshman or Sophomore take certain courses and Praxis I or PPST Check-point 1 Screening into the Teacher Education Program so that you can…. Methods of teaching Agriculture Education Check-point 2 Pre-student teaching check– 90 hours completed, GPA etc… Student Teaching And take the Praxis II while maintaining a 2.5 GPA Graduate Land the job of your dreams

Some Critical Documents for Your Success Catalog for year in which you entered college Checklist for that same year Four year plan Admission to teacher education application and related forms Intent to graduate card Graduation Checksheet Goals Statement and Resume

Arkansas Licensure Continuum Degree State Assessment Initial Licensure Induction Assessment Standard Licensure Professional Development Licensure Renewal